Padding



Patented July 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IEINIIIII:` J. CARROLL, OF NORWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MA- CHINERY COMPANY, OF NORWOOD STATION, OHIO, A CORPORATION OFOHIO.

PADDING.

Application led June 6,

This invention relates to resilient padding for use in ironing or pressing machines. The objectof the invention is to provide improved padding suitable for use on any type of ironing or pressing machine and embodying a supporting metal plate carrying a series of springs, said platel having a smooth lower surface uninterrupted by projections of any kind and hence capable of conforming closely and being fitted exactly to the ironing member.A To this supporting plate the springs are connected in a manner to reduce the cost for labor and equipment and simpli the assembling operation and secure a rm, substantial and uniform mounting for said springs which supplies uniform yield throughout the pad and a level upper surface therefor. Moreover, undue flexing or bending of the supporting plate during the ironing operation is avoided. f

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in vdetail hereinafter.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 re resentsa cross` section of an ironing roll wit the invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the bed of a garment ress provided with my improved padding; 3 is a plan view of a portion of said bed; ig. 4 is a detail section showing a spring and associated parts assembled for the securing operation; Fig. 5 illustrates the securing operation; Fig. 6 is a detail section of part of a pad; Fig. 7 is an inverted sectional plan view on the line 7 7, Fig. 6; and Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a sectional'elevation and an inverted plan view illustrating a modification. The invention may be used in any form of pressing or ironing machine when a resilient pressing or ironing surface is desirable and therefore may be applied either to ironing rolls or to platens or chests with Hat,y

curved or irregular surfaces. In the drawings Fig. l 'shows the invention applied to a hollow heated ironing roll, while Fig. 42

illustrates the hollow heated bed of a pressing machine, upon the upper yieldinor surface of which the work is supported and pressed or vironed by an upper pressing member (not shown).

The resilient pad forming the present in- 1924. serial No. 718,317. I

vention comprises a' relatively thin metal base plate to which are permanentl attached a series of uniformly distri uted closely spaced springs of like form, the upper ends of which form the work supporting or engaging surface, separated from theformed to the curved or other configuration' or shape of the pressing bed or the roll to which it is applied. Said base plate has a smooth lower surface characterized particularly bythe absence lof all projections, such as nuts, screw or boltheads, rivet heads, spring parts or the like, although it may have any number of through perforations,

(not shown) to enable steam, air or other.

fluid to pass freely through the platev when desired. The smooth bottom surface of the plate enables it to rest directly with full area of contactingsurface on the press bed 1 or roll surface and hence in close heat conducting relation therewith, and also enables the plate. to be fitted closely'to the bed or roll. This is particularly the case in the a plication of the padding to a roll where t e spring carrying base` plate may be cut to an exact length according to the circumfery ence of the roll with the certainty that when Wound upon the roll, as indicated in Fig. l,

the edges of the plate will meet or abut with an exact or close fit, doing away with all uncertainty in fitting due to irregularity of projections where bolts, rivets or screws are used to fasten the springs or where the springs project through the plate.

For reasons and advantages already stated the sprin are. therefore suitably assembled with t e plate in any manner to leave its lower surface a smooth plane uninterrupted by projections. This conveniently, may be accomplished by a welding operation, either by spot Welding the springs directly to the plate or by securing the Fsprings by some other part which is so Welded, or so secu'red as toproduce no bottom plate projections. For example, each spring 2 may have a helical body portion With the upper turn 3 Wound in a plane parallel with the plate and having the lower portion oi the spring body wound into one, two or more turns of a fiat spiral 3, also in a plane parallel with the body. A metal disc 4 of less diameter than the inner diameter of the helix is then laid in place over the spiral turns at the spring bottom,said disc preferably being formed With a cupped central depression 5 of such depth as to enter and nearly fill the central spring opening and to nearly if not fully Contact With the plate surface. Final securement is eilected by introducing into the cup of said disc from above an upper electrode 6 which opposes u the lower electrode 7 applied to the lower plate surface. By passing current across the gap'between said electrodes. the disc and plate are Welded together Wlth f alrly free fiow of the metal to make a contmuous 1n`- tegral oint, as at 8, Fig. 6:

Vith this arrangement each of the springs has a tirm substantial foundation, includ- ,ing sufficient turns of the flat spiral so that ynot only is its securement complete, but 1t uniform and of a continuity more' ne-arly corresponding to the usual textile 'paddings vThe firm connection. of the spring-bottom to the base plate not only avoids cocking, but

also avoids the continuous application ofieXing edects tending to bend the metal of the base plate at each `spring vand thereby crystallize and break it down. This effectis usually more marked Where the padding is applied 'to a roll which turnsin Contact 'with a chest. but the construction described, even in a roll minimizes base plate iiexure at the bottom of each spring.

The structure also enables the springs ,to be more closely spaced relative to each other than inl prior arrangements for the purpose, due insome measure to the convenient' manner of securing the springs to the plate by g the use of simple electrodes, one at the plate bottom and the other entering each spring from the top, and the avoidance of the use of special jigs, tools or dies for securing operations. When .the springs are .assembled by spot Welding, as described they also may be conveniently spotted at any desired regular or irregular intervals, as determined by the judgment or skill of the 4operator and the requirement of the particular shape of the chest, bed or roll, and need not be located or spaced in a regular manner, such as is usually necessary when assembled by machines and therefore according to a standard jig or template.

Usually the springs are'coated or otherwise protected by more or less insulating material, such as enamel` or the like, not only for insulating purposes, but also as a rust preventive. Due to the low voltage used in spot Welding, the current therefore does not iioW appreciably from the disc to the base plate through the spring, but the Welding effect is concentrated between disc and plate and the spring turns are unharmed. After securement of the sprin s to the plate the pad as a Whole may be su jected to further operations to reduce or prevent rust or corrosion, such as by dipping it into or spraying it With-a rust proof s0111- tion such as paint, enamelI or the like.

Figs. 8 and 9 shovsT a modification in which the spring is directly secured to the plate by a welding operation, but Without a separate disc. Here the bottom of the spring has a part of the wire bent diametreally. acrossA its center, as at10, the wire being raised slightly at lits free end or at the spring axis, as at 11, said raised portion being adapted to be engaged by the upper Welding electrode and pressed thereby into full Weldingcontact with the plate.

Either of the forms of springs before de-v scribed may be made of any suitable ru'st resisting material, such as steel, brass, Monel metal or the like, as will be obvious. l

1. A resilient pad for ironing machines;

i comprising a metal supporting plate, a series of like springsA distributed over the same, and a separate member Welded to the plate at each spring and thereby permanently anchoring a portion of each spring to the plate.

2. A resilient pad 'for ironing machines, 'comprising a metal supporting plate, .a series of like springs each having the wire at one end bent into a fiat spiral, and a disc welded to the plate at each spring base and with the plate 'embracing saidliiat spiral.

3. A resilient pad for ironing machines, comprising a'metal supporting plate, a series of like springs each having the Wire at one, end bent into a Hat spiral, and a member secured to the plate at each spring base with said member embracing said fiat spiral.

4. A,resilient pad for ironing machines comprising a metal supporting plate having a smooth lower surface free of projections and perforations, a series of like springs distributed over the upper surface of said plate, and a separate member for permanentl'y anchoring each spring to the plate, said members being secured to the upper surface of said plate.

5. A resilient pad for ironing machines, comprising a metal supporting plate having a smooth lower surface free of projections and perforations, a. series of like springs distributed over the upper surface of said plate, and a separate member for permanently anchoring a portion of each spring to the 10 plate, said members being Welded to the upper surface of said plate.

In testimony whereof I hereby aliix my signature, 

